Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-09-23
AMUsE THE CHILDREN.
Some Excellent Ways of Keeping the Lit
tie Ones Quiet and Cheerful.

Some Excellent Ways of Keeping the Lit
tie Ones Quiet and Cheerful.
Give the children something to DO
and they will not torment you by med
ding with things with which they have
no right. 1t is only when most chill
dren are tired of their playthings and
are restless and unquiet that they are
apt to transgress the laws of obedience
A healthy child will very rarely sit still
for any length of time. 1t isn't natural
that he should, and it should not be ex-
pected of him. 1t is cruel and unnat-
ural to say to child whose principal
fault, if fault it can be called, is rest
lessness, $50 and sit down on that
chair, and don't move until l tell you"
Yet often mothers say this and persist
in having it strictly obeyed. l have
seen little children so treated, with
grave faces, go slowly to the chair
take their places on it. fold their hands,
and like little martyrs sit quietly, with
the exception of long-drawn sigh
that would escape from them now and
then, no matter how hard they tried to
suppress it. This must surely be wrong
to punish child for no offense what
ever but his natural activity. Had he
wilfully disobeyei, he might have beer
punished in different way, but GER
tainly no chastisement that could be
given would be more trying to his dis
position and nerves than that of sitting
still.
How much better it would be to pro-
vide something for the restless little
hands and brains to do. Have some
toys placed away to be brought out at
just such time. When they are tired
of their everyday playthings. sur
prise at getting something new will
cheer them wonderfully, and their de-
light and interest in their fresh possess
sions will allay for time, at least,
their fever of restlessness. Let them
have some harmless liquid glue and
teach them to repair their broken toys
They will be delighted to do this, for all
healthy, active children love to work,
and you will be astonished to watch the
and planning the little heads
will do ere they complete their work to
their own satisfaction. The articles
may not be put together just right;
horse, that had both head
and tail broken off, may be fixed with
head where the tail ought to be and
vice versa, and a doll with broken feet
may have the appearance of walking
both ways at once. But what of that?
the little mechanics are satisfied with
their work, and who else has right to
complain? Not we older people, surely,
for we make graver mistakes every day
in our labor.
A scrap book is an excellent thing for
the little ones to puzzle their brains
over. Give them apair of scissors with
out any points, such as are usually used
at dry goods stores, an old book with
brown paper leaves, some paste and any
kind OF picture cards, papers, etc., and
let them cut and paste to their hearts
They will occupy hours in this
kind of work. 60" some of you may
say, 'they will make such mess with
the little scraps of paper that they cut
in trimming the pictures. Very
likely they will. but they can be
easily taught. to pick them all up
when they are through. If there is a
baby in the family the mother can
make nice, stout picture book of
silesia by covering two pieces of paste
board of the size desired for covers,
and sewing or gluing between, tightly,
leaves of silesia of any color liked. Let
the children fill it by FASTING on the
leaves any kinds of pictures they wish.
This will furnish great deal of amuse-
ment for them, and be a serviceable.
never-ending book of wonders to baby.
Boston Budget